Wailea Golf Club, Gold Golf Course Review

Wailea, Maui, Hawaii73.4 rating; 137 slope

Wailea Golf Club, Gold Course Overview: The Wailea Gold Golf Course is a tough
Robert Trent Jones Jr. design that employs the use of sand traps very
well. Most drives need to be shaped in
order to provide good approaches to the well-bunkered greens. More difficult than fun, this course will
test the golfer even if the normal excitement offered by Hawaiian courses isn’t
really there. The best holes are
reviewed below:

Wailea Golf Club, Gold CourseHole 1: This downhill starting hole provides the best views of the Ocean on the course, unfortunately, for those who like a golf course to build in that way. There is a strategically placed bunker on the inside of the dog-leg left so the player can get used to otherwise easy drives needing much more attention. Anything pushed right or hit too far will find lava or street. The approach is to a large, well-bunkered green.

Wailea Golf Club, Gold CourseHole 5: There are several relatively straight, long par 4’s on this course and number 5 is the best of these due to the aesthetically pleasing set up of the bunkers and trees combined with the lava around which the hole was built.

Wailea Golf Club, Gold CourseHole 6: The one break in the otherwise difficult front-nine is the drivable par four 6th. A sea of sand surrounds the green with piles of lava waiting behind, but the aggressive drive is manageable. The lush foliage makes this hole pretty to the eye as well as to the score as it is a real birdie opportunity.

Wailea Golf Club, Gold CourseHole 7: The best long hole on the course, number 7 is a double-dog leg affair that requires good shot making on every strike of the ball. The second shot is key as it must be placed well in order to give a good angle to the well-guarded green. (not pictured)

Wailea Golf Club, Gold CourseHole 18: After a fairly monotonous but hard back nine, the last golf hole of the day is a good one. This 440 yard dog leg left requires a draw, or at least a straight shot, in order to leave a mid iron to the green, but the overly aggressive line will find trees or lava, leaving a blind shot. The second shot is downhill to a large green and affords a great view of the clubhouse and the Pacific Ocean. (not pictured)